Apparatus for drying photographic prints



7 y 1953 R. SARDESON ET AL 2,639,517

APPARATUS FOR DRYING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Filed June 3, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. fioBERT ARDESON 41.5 M. DrE

y 1953 R. SARDESON ETAL APPARATUS FOR DRYING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1949 INVENTOR. F055? T Smwzswv GLENMDYE I Patented May 26, 1953 APPARATUS FOR DRYING PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS Robert Sardeson and Glen M. Dye, Minneapolis,

Minn, assignors to Pako Corporation, Minneapciis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,958

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus for drying photographic prints.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and efiicient apparatus for drying photographic prints comprising a pair of movable endless aprons, a heated casing about which said aprons move, one of said aprons extending outwardly at the front of the machine and forming a receiving portion for the prints, which prints are then carried about said heated casing, dried and delivered without further attention from the operator, said heated casing being vertically elongated and disposed in a vertically elongated cabinet of rather small depth, said cabinet being constructed and arranged to be closed when said apparatus is not in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for drying photographic prints comprising a cabinet of considerable height and comparatively small depth, a vertically elongated heated casing in said cabinet, a pair of endless aprons movable about said casing between which a print is carried, said cabinet having top, rear, side and bottom walls and having a lower front wall portion mounted to swing outwardly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower end, the same having means adjacent its upper end over which one of said aprons runs when the apparatus is in operative position, said portion being swingable to vertical position when the apparatus is not in use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such an apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph, together with a tray adapted to receive the dried prints, means for supporting said tray in position projecting outwardly at the open front of said cabinet, said tray being removable and being adapted to be placed in position with its bottom extending vertically upward from said lower portion of the front wall of said cabinet and also forming part of the front wall of said cabinet when the cabinet is closed and the apparatus is not in use.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a print drying apparatus comprising blotting rollers between which the wet prints move, and a bracket in which said rollers are carried, said bracket having means for supporting extra rollers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for drying photographic prints comprising a cabinet of considerable height and of much less depth, a vertically elongated casing in said cabinet, a pair of endless aprons movable about said casing and a pan or tray in the bottom of said cabinet removable :at the front thereof and disposed below said casing and aprons, said tray having a plurality of spaced ribs upstanding from the bottom thereof so that any dust will collect between said ribs and if one of said aprons moves into said tray it will be supported on said ribs and will not wipe up said dust.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide a print drying apparatus comprising a cabinet or casing, a heated drying means in said cabinet, means for conveying prints to said drying means, and movable means for closing said cabinet or casing when said apparatus is not in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with said apparatus in operative position with the upper front wall section or portion removed;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation with the apparatus in inoperative position with the cabinet thereof closed;

Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the upper front wall section or portion of the cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 5 shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken on line 11 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line l0i U of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a partial view of a link used shown on an enlarged scale; Figs. 6 to 10 also being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 12 is a partial View in front elevation showing a driving mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is a view in vertical section through a bearing for an apron roller.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus or machine is shown comprising a cabinet 20. While cabinet 20 could be made of various materials, in practice it has been made of sheet metal, the same having a rear Wall 20a, side walls 2%, a top wall 200 and a bottom Wall 2001. Top wall 200 is shown as having side flanges extending over and outside of rear wall 29a and side walls 262). The side walls 2% have short forwardly extending portions 251717 from which extend inwardly short flanges 26130. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, cabinet 2b is quite elongated vertically and is of comparatively shallow depth. Supported within cabinet 26 and somewhat adjacent the rear wall 26a is a vertically elongated casing 22. Casing 22 is preferably made of sheet material, such as sheet metal, and the same has upper and lower ends of concave form and has contracted portions 22a between which the casing is somewhat expanded in curved surfaces. Casing 22 will be heated in any suitable manner", as by a gas burner having a burner portion formed by a tube 23 extending transversely of casing 22 adjacent its bottom. A combustible mixture will be supplied to burner 23 by suitable apparatus. (not shown) which may be the same as that disclosed in the patent to Glen M. Dye, No. 2,137,480, granted November 22, 1938. Openings 221) are shown in the end of casing 22 for the outlet of gases of combustion and for circulation.

A front wall section or portion 25 of cabinet is provided at the lower part thereof, the same comprising a plate having side flanges a, which flanges are pivoted adjacent their lower ends on pivots 26 to the side walls 2%. Handles or hand holds 2'! are secured to member 25 adjacent the top thereof. Secured adjacent the top of each. flange 25a is a bracket 26 which is apertured to receive the reduced portion 22a of an apron guiding non-rotatable cylindrical member 29 which extends between brackets 28. Bracket 28 has an inwardly extending lug to which is pivoted by a headed and nutted stud 36 a link 3i. Link 3-] extends inwardly, the same having an elongated slot 31c extending to adjacent its inner end, saidv slot having a, lateral terminal projection 3 lb. A rectangular bracket 32 has outwardly extending flanges welded to the inner side of the side wall 201), as shown in Fig. 9, and a headed stud 33 extends through bracket 32 and slot 31a and is provided with a wing nut 34. There is of course a link 3! at each side of the cabinet as there is a bracket 28 secured to each flange 25a. An outer endless apron 36 is provided which is made of strong absorbent fabric, such as canvas, the same having a width somewhat less than the distance between the flanges Zllbc. Apron 36 extends upwardly over member 29 and then inwardly and slightly upwardly to and over a roller 31 secured between the walls 26d, then downwardly around a lower blotting roll 38, upwardl around another cylindrical roller 39 similar to roller 31, then downwardly and inwardly and around a cylindrical roller 40 extending acrosscabinet 26 close to casing 22 at which point apron 36 comes into contact with an inner apron 42which moves about casing 22. There are three of the blotting rolls 36 and these are made of,

very absorbent fabric. In practice it has been found suitable to make these of several layers of diaper cloth. The cloth is wound on central metal cores and the ends of these cores are guided in brackets 44 secured to the sides of cabinet 20 by suitable screws 45, which brackets have inwardly projecting parallel flanges 44a forming guideways for the cores of rolls 38. Bracket 44 has side portions with semi-circular recesses therein which also receive the rollers 31 and 39.

Said inner apron 42 extends between roller 40 and the side of casing 22 and said apron then moves in close contact with casing 22 and under a cylindrical roller 46 extending across casing 22 and having its ends journaled in bearings secured in the sides 20b of cabinet 20. Said apron then extends downwardly and around a roller 41 having trunnions 41a mounted in suitable bearings 48 in the sides 20b of casing 20. Said inner apron 42 then passes upwardly along the rear side of casing 22 and between said casing and a cylindrical roller 49 similar to roller 46 which has its ends secured in bearings in the sides 20b. Said apron 42 then extends upwardly in contact with casing 22 and between the same and another cylindrical roller 50 extending across cabinet 20 and having its ends journaled in bearings secured in the sides 20b, said apron then extending upwardly in contact with casing 22 and between one of a pair of rollers 5| and casing 22. Rollers 5| are similar to rollers 46, 49 and 50. Apron 42 then extends upwardly over a roller 52 having trunnions 52a at its ends journaled in suitable bearings 53 mounted in the sides 2%. Rollers 41 and 52 are partially disposed in the concave ends of casing 22. Apron 42 then extends downwardly along the front side of casing 22 between the same and the other roller 54 and between a driven roller 54 and casing 22, then over a triangular rib 220 which is secured to casing 22 and extends across the same. Apron 42 then extends downwardly and around a vertically movable cylindrical roller 56, which roller 56 has its ends movable between the flanges of channels formed respectively on brackets 51 secured to each side 20b of cabinet 20. Each bracket 5'! has a flange projecting forwardly parallel to the side walls 201) in which are formed a plurality of upwardly inclined open ended slots 57a. After passing around roller 56, apron 42 extends upwardly and around a fixed cylindrical roller 58 and then extends downwardly alongside of its layer on rod 56 and downwardly between roller 40 and casing 22.

Apron 36 after passing under roller 46 moves in close contact with inner apron 42, under roller 46, around roller 41, and under rollers 49, 50 and 5|. Apron 36 then extends upwardly and over roller 52, downwardly and under roller 5|. It then passes under a driving roller 54 and upwardly over a roller 65 having its ends journaled in hearings in the side walls 20b. Apron 36 then extends downwardly around a heavy vertically movable roller 63. Apron 36 then extends downwardly and around a vertically movable cylindrical roller 63.. between the sides of channels 64 (see Fig. 8) which are secured to the sidewalls 20b respectively in any suitable manner, as by welding. Apron 36 extends upwardly from roller 63 and over a pair of horizontally alined rollers 61 similar to rollers 5! and then down adjacent rear wall 20a and around a pair of horizontally alined rollers 60 and then upwardly and over rod- 29. A cylindrical roller 66 extends across cabinet 26 closely adjacent the upper side portion of driven roller 54 and holds apron 36 against roller 54. Roller 66 moves downwardly by gravity and is guided for vertical movement in guides 64. Several of the blotting rolls. 38 are used, usually at least three, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, a plate spring 68 is secured at one end in the upper part of the channel in bracket 57 and bears at its lower end against the trunnion end or core of lower roller 33 to keep the same from rising under the tension or pull of apron. 36. The upper rollers 38 rest on each other by gravity in the channels in brackets 44. The ends of rollers 31',

Roller 63 is guided at its end-s.

39, 46, 49, 58, 5!, 60, GI and 85, and the trunnions of rollers 41 and 52 are journaled in ball bearings 61 (see Fig. 13) having flanges 61a secured to walls 201) by small screws 69 extending into said walls and a plate 611) secured to the inner side thereof.

A plate in extends across cabinet 20 just below the rib 220, the same inclining downwardly and forwardly. A bracket secured to this plate has flanges H spaced a short distance below said plate. A pair of narrow plates [2 are secured to the sides 2% of cabinet 20. Said plates "12 extend downwardly and forwardly and have their ends turned downwardly at an acute angle. Plates 12 have projections or buttons 13 of rubber or similar material secured thereto and projecting at the top surface thereof. A tray 15 is provided, the same being of rather elongated triangular shape in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the front of cabinet and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Tray 15 is of a width to extend substantially between flanges 28120 of cabinet 28. Said tray has a front wall 15a and triangular shaped side walls 151). The bottom Lie of the tray, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, has its inner end bent or turned upwardly at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to form a narrow flange. Tray i5 when in operative position with the apparatus in operation, occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. It then has its bottom resting on the narrow plates i2 and is disposed under the plate H which may be engaged by the inner upturned end of bottom F50. Said tray has secured to its outer side a pair of handles or hand-holds 15 similar to the handholds 2?. Tray l5 can be readily removed by lifting the same at its front end slightly and sliding the same forwardly under plate TI and over plate 72. Said tray can then be placed in position, as shown in Fig. 2, extending vertically and forming part of the front wall of the cabinet 28. The inturned portion of the bottom rests on the top of the lower portion and the tray is then merely pushed in-between the flanges 2812c and between resilient buttons flanges.

An upper front wall section 80 is provided which comprises a plate having a width to extend substantially between flanges 2812c and having narrow downturned flanges 88a at each side. Flanges 88a are provided with inclined notches 8G?) adjacent their ends and said flanges are discontinued adjacent the upper end of portion 88 where said portion is bent inwardly at an angle of substantially degrees, as shown in Fig. 3. Flanges Ztbc at their upper portions are provided with inwardly projecting headed members 8| having reduced shank portions am. The upper end of member 80 is inserted in the rear of the downturned flange of the top wall 280 and the notches 8% are engaged over the shank portions 8 i a of members 8 l. Member 88 is thus held firmly in place and its lower edge is in substantial engagement with the upper end of tray 15.

A box-like casing is secured to one side of cabinet is and said casing contains a motor 85 which is secured to one side wall 28b by suitable bolts 88 extending through slots 85a in the attaching flange of said motor. Motor 85 has a pulley 8i secured to the armature shaft thereof over which runs a belt 88 also running over a pulley 89 secured to a shaft 98 of a speed reducing mechanism iii. The speed reducing mechanism comprises a worm gear and a worm wheel gear not shown, and a reduced speed shaft 92 H secured to said which is secured to the driving roll 54. Electrical control switches 93 for motor are shown at the front of casing 84.

A pan or tray 95 is provided which is of shallow depth and is supported on the bottom wall 20d of cabinet 28. Said tray has a front flange or side 95a which can be grasped and the tray slid forwardly out of the cabinet below section 25 of the frontwall. Tray 95 has a multiplicity of ribs 95b formed in its bottom which extend inwardly and substantially perpendicular to the front and rear walls of cabinet 28.

In operation the tray 15 will be removed from its position, as shown in Fig. 2, and will be disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The front wall section or portion 25 will be pulley forwardly by taking hold of the handles 2'! and link 3| will move outwardly and slot 3 la will move relatively to stud 33 until the end of said slot is reached, when portion are will drop over said stud and said link will then be held in its outer position. The burner 23 will be ignited and casing 22 will be heated as desired. Motor 85 will now be started and driving roller 54'. will be rotated. The apron 38 engages roller 54 rather tightly and is held against the roller by roller 65. The rotation of roller 5A which is made with a rubber or other friction surface drives apron 36 and causes the same to travel. Said apron moves so that the portion adjacent roller 29 moves inwardly and the wet prints to be dried are laid face downward upon apron 38. These prints move inwardly and from apron 35 between the top two blotting rollers 38, onto apron 38 over roller 39 and then downwardly into the recess between aprons 36 and 32 above roller 48 and then between apron 323 and inner apron d2. Apron 32 is moved along by friction with apron 86 and the prints then travel between said aprons about the heated casing 22 and are thus dried. When the prints reach the driven roller 5d the outer apron 36 makes a sharp reverse bend about said driving roller and the inner apron bends somewhat as it moves over rib 220 so that the prints are disengaged and are delivered onto the plate ill and slide from said plate into the tray i5. It is desirable to have a number of extra blotting rollers and these are conveniently carried in the slots 52a of the brackets 5'! where they are dried. When one of the rollers 38 becomes too wet or too saturated with moisture, it can be replaced by one of the rollers in the brackets 5i and the wet roller placed in said brackets to dry. The pan or tray 95 catches a considerable amount of dust and lint which collects at the bottom of cabinet 28. Pan 95 can easily be removed to be emptied or cleaned. The ribs 9% are provided so that should the apron 3B slacken and engage the pan it will engage only the ribs 951) and will not wipe up the dust in the pan since the dust will be down between the ribs Ziib.

When the machine is not in use the burner will be extinguished, motor 35 stopped and the operator can then lift on the links 3i and then swing section or portion '25 inwardly. Apron 38 will be retracted by weight of tension roller 83 which is quite heavy. Section 25 swings inwardly about the axes of pivots 2t and comes into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. It now forms part of the front wall. Apron 36 exerts an inward pull on portion 25 due to the weight of roller 63.

Tray i5 is now removed from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and the same is placed between flanges 2llbc above portion 25 and is held in position as described. Member 80 is not removed in the usual operation of the machine but normally forms a front wall. The machine is now tightly closed and dust will not collect on apron 38 adjacent member 29 nor on any of the other parts in cabinet 2%). This is a great advantage. In the machine shown in the prior patent above referred to, it was not possible to close the machine up and if it was to be protected from dust it had to be covered each night. The present machine can be put into tightly closed position in a matter of seconds, and reopened as quickly.

From the above description it will be seen that we have produced a very efficient structure of print drying machine and one which constitutes quite an advance in the art. All the operator has to do is to lay the wet prints on the apron at the front of the machine and they are delivered in dried condition to the tray 75-. When the machine is not in use, as at the end of a day, the parts 25 and i5 can be very quickly placed in the position in Fig. so that the cabinet is tightly closed. The apparatus has been amply tested in actual practice, found to be very successful and EfflClEllt and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants in vention, which generally stated, consists a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combination of parts dis closed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a vertically elem gated cabinet, a heated casing in said cabinet, a pair of endless aprons constructed and arranged to hold a print therebetwecn and move along said casing in close proximity thereto, said cabinet having a lower front wall portion swingable about a horizontal axis adjacent its bottom, a cylindrical member carried by said portion adjacent its top over which one of said aprons runs, said portion being movable to an outward position with said apron in receiving operative position and being movable to a substantially vertical position with said apron within said cabinet, said portion then forming part of the front wall of said cabinet.

2. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a vertically elongated cabinet having a front Wall, a heated casing in said cabinet, a pair of endless aprons constructed and arranged to hold a print therebetween and move along said casing in close proximity thereto, a tray having an imperforate bottom and elongated sides, means in said cabinet for holding said tray in position projecting forwardly from said cabinet said aprons having a discharge position adjacent and above said tray when in its forwardly projecting position so that said tray is disposed for receiving dried prints, said tray being removable and being constructed and arranged to be placed with its bottom in vertical position forming part of said front wall of said cabinet.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said means comprising spaced forwardly extending plates in said cabinet between which the inner end of said tray is disposed.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2, said means comprising vertically spaced forwardly extending plates in said cabinet between which the inner end of said tray' is disposed and on one of which it rests, the inner end of said bottom being bent upwardly at an angle to be disposed in the rear of one of said plates.

5. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a vertically elon gated cabinet having rear, side, top and bottom walls, a heated vertically extending casing insaid cabinet, 2. pair of endless aprons constructed and arranged to hold a print therebetween and move along, said casing in close proximity thereto, said cabinet having a lower front wall portion pivoted about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower end, a member carried by the upper end of said portion over which one of said aprons runs, said portion being swingable outwardly to a position to hold said apron in operative position to receive prints, and means for limiting the outward movement of said portion, said portion being movable to substantially vertical position with said apron in folded position and said cabinet in closed position.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, a tray of triangular shape in transverse cross section taken per endicular to the front of said cabinet, means for holding said tray in one position extending outwardly from said cabinet to receive dried prints from said aprons, and means for holding said tray in another position with its bottom extending substantially vertically and forming a. portion of the front wall of said cabinet.

I. The structure set forth in claim 5, a tray, means for holding said tray in a position extending outwardly from said cabinet to receive dried prints from said aprons, and means for holding, said tray in position with its bottom extending substantially vertically and forming a portion of the front wall of said cabinet, said tray extending upwardly from said first mentioned portion and a third removable member forming the upper portion of the front wall of said cabinet adapted to be placed in vertical position above said tray, and means for holding said third member in place.

8. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a cabinet having a height over three times its depth and much greater than its width, said cabinet having top, rear, side and bottom walls and a front arranged to be open, a heating member in said cabinet, an endless fabric apron movable about said heating member, a closure portion for the front of said cabinet supporting said apron and swingable to a position spaced. from said front with a portion of said apron and to a position closing the lower portion of said front with said portion of said apron within said cabinet and for closing the upper portion of said front.

Q. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a cabinet having a partially open front side and otherwise having walls enclosing a chamber therein, a heated drying means in said cabinet, means for supporting prints on their flat sides and for conveying prints to said drying means having a portion adjacent said front side constructed and arranged to have wet prints layed thereon, movable members for closing said front side, one of said movable members being swingingly connected to said cabinet to swing outwardly therefrom and a support for said second mentioned means carried by said one of said movable members.

10. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a cabinet having a partially open front side and otherwisev having walls enclosing a chamber therein, a heated drying means in said cabinet, means for supporting prints on their fiat sides and for conveying prints to said drying means having a portion adjacent said front side constructed and arranged to have wet prints layed thereon, movable members for closing said front side, one of said movable members being removable from its front closing position and formed to constitute a print receiving tray and means in said cabinet for supporting said tray in position for receiving dried prints.

11. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a vertically elongated cabinet having an open front portion, a heated drying member in said cabinet, an endless fabric conveyor having a print receiving portion extending outwardly through said open front portion, said last mentioned portion being foldable into said cabinet, said conveyor being movable about said drying member and to a print discharging position in said cabinet, two members adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical position at said open front portion for closing said open front portion and cabinet with said conveyor disposed in said cabinet, one of said last mentioned members being of plateliire form and being mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis adjacent the bottom and front of said cabinet so as to swing outwardly from its vertical position, and a member carried at the top of said last mentioned member over which said conveyor runs.

12. An apparatus for drying photographic prints having in combination, a vertically elongated cabinet having an open front portion, a heated drying member in said cabinet, an endless fabric conveyor having a print receiving portion extending outwardly through said open front portion, said last mentioned portion being foldable into said cabinet, said conveyor being movable about said drying member and to a print discharging position in said cabinet, two members adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical position at said open front portion for closing said open front portion and cabinet with .said conveyor disposed in said cabinet, one of said two members having end and side flanges extending inwardly therefrom when in its vertical closing position, said last mentioned member being removable and its inner side forming a tray and vertically spaced members secured at the inner side of said cabinet for supporting said tray in position extending outwardly through the open front side of said cabinet with said end flange at its outer end.

ROBERT SARDESON. GLEN M. DYE.

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